Tests ketamine effects on decision-making and emotion in depression
Tests ketamine against placebo in adults with major depressive disorder.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Glutamatergic Adaptation to Stress as a Mechanism for Anhedonia and Treatment Response With Ketamine
Key facts
- Where
- Atlanta, United StatesSee the site
- Phase
- Early phase 1
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Source: NCT05327699, who can take part
Where in United States
- Emory UniversityAtlanta, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Emory University
- Trial code
- NCT05327699
- Record updated
- 26 May 2026
- Original description
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of ketamine on decision-making and emotion processing in a sample of individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).Read full original descriptionShow less
Glutamatergic Adaptation to Stress as a Mechanism for Anhedonia and Treatment Response With Ketamine
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of ketamine on decision-making and emotion processing in a sample of individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Inclusion: MDD Patients:; willing and able to give written informed consent; men or women, 18-65 years of age; primary diagnosis of DSM-V MDD, current, as diagnosed by the SCID-I; score of ≥20 on the Beck Depression Inventory, which will include patients characterized as having "moderate/severe" (20-28) or "very-severe" (29-63) depressive symptoms; off all antidepressant therapy for at least 8 weeks prior to the baseline visit; Healthy Controls:; willing and able to give written informed consent; men or women, 18-65 years of age.
Exclusion: use of any recreational drugs as confirmed by urine drug screen at the time of scanning; elevated blood pressure prior to infusion (systolic > 160 or diastolic >100); prior adverse reaction to ketamine; use of antipsychotic medications; use of any recreational drugs as confirmed by urine drug screen at the time of scanning; history of any bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder; Raynaud's disease that may interfere with the cold-pressor; history of treatment resistance as determined by ATRQ; evidence of any psychiatric disorder with exception of specific phobia, and no history of any psychiatric disorder except mild past substance use disorder as diagnosed by the SCID-I; history of any substance abuse within the last 6 months; Raynaud's disease that may interfere with the cold-pressor; unstable cardiovascular, endocrinologic, hematologic, hepatic, renal, or neurologic disease (as determined by physical examination and laboratory testing), including upper respiratory disease or asthma, glaucoma or porphyria; MDD Patients:; active psychotic symptoms of any type; substance abuse/dependence within 6 months of study entry (as determined by SCID); active suicidal ideation as determined by a score ≥3 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSR); pregnancy or lactation; use of glucocorticoids at any time during the study; contraindications for MRI; MMSE score <28; use of greater than 2mg daily of lorazepam or similar benzodiazipine; Regular smoker as self-reported; Healthy Controls:; pregnancy or lactation; use of glucocorticoids at any time during the study; contraindications for MRI; MMSE score <28; Regular smoker as self-reported.